Poland: Half a million leave Poland in 2013
A leading demographer has estimated that up to 500,000 Poles emmigrated in 2013, as Poland’s population shrinks still further since it joined the EU in 2004.
“Official statistics point towards what has been another huge wave of immigration,” affirmed Professor Krystyna Iglicka from Warsaw’s Lazarski University.
“According to German data, some 200,000 Poles moved there last year. A similar number of our compatriots also went to the UK. …(Read more)
The News
France: French museum guard breaks Napoleon’s chair
A historic chair that once belonged to the former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte may have been able to hold the “little corporal”, but it was not designed, it seems, to hold the weight of the museum’s security guard.
Talk about the damage that having a Napoleon complex can do. A guard at the Musée Fesch d’Ajaccio, a fine arts museum in Corsica’s largest town, couldn’t help indulging his inner emperor last week. He must have lived to regret it. ...(Read more)
The Local
Scotland: Film maker explores Scotland’s fairground families
A film by a Bafta-winning director is to explore the lives of the families who rely on the travelling shows for their livelihood.
The feature film is expected to go into production this summer, after its director spent 18 months visiting fairgrounds and meeting members of the show community.
Martin Smith said he was inspired by childhood memories of living alongside the fairground in the west coast town of Helensburgh. ...(Read more)
The Scotsman
Australia: Welcome to the WiFi wetness tester
Disposable organic sensor that can be embedded in a nappy and let a carer know it needs changing has been unveiled by Japanese researchers.
The flexible integrated circuit printed on a plastic film transmits information and receives its power wirelessly, and could potentially be manufactured for a few yen, the developers say. ...(Read more)
The Australian
Slovakia: English love for Slovakia (video included)
“Besides the beauty of the countryside, it’s just like stepping back in time,” says Ted Norris, an English language teacher from London, on his first impression of Slovakia. In addition to reasons for which Norris considers Slovakia to be his home, he talks about how the Slovak character differs from the English one. …(Read more)
The Spectator
Norway: Norway doctors inject Botox to treat obesity
A team of doctors at Trondheim University Hospital are testing the use of Botox, the anti-wrinkle injection favoured by Hollywood stars, as a treatment for obesity.
Dr Bård Kulseng, an associate professor at the hospital’s Department of Cancer Research, hopes that botox injections could slow down the time it takes the stomach to empty, making patients feel full for longer. ...(Read more)
The Local
UAE: Dubai’s real estate sector gets ‘smarter’
World Expo will have limited direct effect in 2014 because of restricted short-term activity, says real estate advisory firm.
Expo 2020 will have a positive impact on the UAE over the long-term with hospitality, logistics and retail being the major winners, Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading real estate investment and advisory firm, said on Monday. ...(Read more)
Khaleej Times
*Image of Gdansk via Shutterstock.
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